(018) The Influence of Purity Culture on Sexual Shame After Sexual Trauma

Abstract Introduction Sexual shame is common consequence of nonconsensual sexual experiences (NSEs) and has been shown to negatively impact sexual wellbeing (Pulverman et al., 2018). Religious teaching can also foster sexual shame through rigid or unrealistic sexual ethics (Lefevor et al., 2024). Purity culture-a sexual ethic rooted in Evangelical Christianity-may uniquely contribute to sexual shame through its emphasis on women preventing all sexual activity, regardless of consent (Ortiz, 2018). Objective This study investigated whether childhood exposure to purity culture messages and adulthood acceptance of purity culture beliefs contributed to sexual shame among survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA), adult NSEs, and controls. It was hypothesized that sexual shame would be higher in both NSE groups, and that exposure to and acceptance of purity culture beliefs would independently predict sexual shame. Methods Women (n = 186; CSA = 66; Adult NSEs = 66, controls = 54) aged 19-79 (M = 38.83; SD = 11.86) completed measures of purity culture exposure and acceptance (Ortiz, 2018), sexual shame (Seebeck, 2020), and NSEs (Kilimnik et al., 2018). Eligibility criteria included being sexually active, in a romantic relationship of three months or more, and born and currently living in the Southeastern United States to increase the likelihood of purity culture familiarity (Bauer, 2012). Data were analyzed with multiple linear regressions, followed by bootstrapped confidence intervals and bands (1000 replicates). Results Sexual shame was significantly higher among CSA (β = .41, p .001) and adult NSE (β = .33, p .001) survivors compared to controls, with no significant difference between NSE groups (p = .322). Childhood exposure to purity culture approached significance ((F(1.62, 186) = 2.63, p = 0.056); the total model accounted for 15% of variance in sexual shame (adj-R2 = .146). Adult acceptance of purity culture beliefs significantly predicted sexual shame (β = 0.004, p = 0.0065), although the effect size was small, accounting for a 0.44% increase in sexual shame. This model explained 17% of variance (adj-R2 = 0.173). Post hoc moderation analyses revealed a significant interaction between adulthood acceptance of purity culture and sexual shame for CSA survivors (F(1.001, 185) = 9.81, p = 0.002). Conclusions Having an NSE elevates sexual shame, regardless of whether it occurred in childhood or adulthood. Contrary to hypotheses, childhood exposure to purity culture did not predict higher sexual shame. This may reflect purity culture’s messaging that male sexual desire is uncontrollable and that men are always seeking sex (Ortiz, 2018; Cronan, 2023). For women, NSEs may reinforce these narratives of male sexual aggression. In adulthood, endorsing purity culture beliefs may heighten sexual shame by creating dissonance between one’s convictions and lived experiences. This may be especially relevant for CSA survivors who reframe their abuse in ways that reinforce self-blame. Clinically, sexual shame should be considered a key therapeutic target for NSE survivors. Moreover, the relationships between sexual shame and religious sexual ethics warrants nuanced exploration rather than assumptions of universal harm. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Stripes.